CRAWFORD COUNTY — The woman killed Saturday in a crash on U.S. 30 east of Ohio 598 has been identified as Heather Blair of Mansfield by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
The 50-year-old Blair, a passenger in 2015 Dodge Caravan, was pronounced dead at the scene of the three-vehicle accident at 11:09 a.m., according to a press release Monday afternoon from the CCSO.
According to the sheriff’s office, its investigation indicates that a 2002 Hyundai Tucson, driven by James Stevens, 74, of Akron, lost control while attempting to pass a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia, driven by Mahamud S. Ali, 29, of Columbus.
The CCSO said Stevens lost control and went into the outer westbound lane and eventually came to rest along the shoulder, facing east.
The tractor-trailer driver saw Stevens lose control “and rapidly slowed to avoid collision with (Stevens),” the sheriff’s office said.
The Caravan, driven by 41-year-old Jeremy Hollar of Mansfield, collided with the left rear of the semi and “came to rest partially on the roadway, in the inner lane, facing north.”
Sheriff Scott Kent, Chief Deputy Chad Filliater and deputies responded to the scene after 911 calls, along with members of the Crestline Fire Department, Galion Fire Department and Jefferson Township Fire Department.
Two passengers inside the Caravan — David Thompson, 54, of Ashland, and Blake McWilliams, 31, Mansfield — were seriously injured in the crash and were taken to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. The email on Monday didn’t report their condition.
Hollar was also taken to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital for treatment, according to the CCSO. Two other juvenile males inside the vehicle sustained minor injuries and were taken to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital.
Neither of the other two drivers were injured, nor was a passenger in the car driven by Stevens, Elnora Wilson-Stevens, 64, also of Akron.
Ronk’s Towing was called to the scene and removed the Dodge Caravan. The other vehicles were able to be driven from the scene without incident.
The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Galion Fire Department, Crestline Fire Department, Jefferson Township Fire Department, Crawford County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Ohio State Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Enforcement Unit.
The crash remains under investigation and no further information was available Monday afternoon, the CCSO said.
